I was born in 1914 near Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, falling in love with Clara Raab while serving in the Czech Army before being separated by the war. In 1942, I volunteered to report to authorities when one child from each Jewish family was ordered to go, narrowly escaping transport to Auschwitz thanks to my childhood friend who recognized me among 1,500 others. I survived through hiding, working for the underground, and even hiding in bales of straw for months before being liberated by the Russian Army in 1945, reuniting with Clara, and eventually escaping Communist Czechoslovakia with our son by hiding in a coal barge traveling to Vienna. Come to Portraits of Survival to learn more.